Day 18

#PrincipleEight: Seek not the approval of people.

What other people think of you is none of your business. Most of what they think is passed through their own personal internal filter, so it is tainted testimony. If someone does not like you, or always has something negative to say about you, it is reflective of that person. There is something they see reflected in you that troubles them, that calls attention to something they lack in themselves. Human beings are fatally narcissistic. We often interpret others’ negative feelings and comments as being directed at us, when most of the time it is usually about them.

Activity:

Plan a fun get-together with a few of your friends, that you actually enjoy being around. If there is a negative person in the bunch, talk to your friend later separately. The two of you plan something fun to do together, and encourage positivity. Maybe your friend is going through a tough time, and needs someone to reach out to him/her. Remember, “everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.”